§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to hospital trusts when negotiating for locum contracts for doctors and nurses with private agencies. [59441]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 24 May 2002]: The Department is publishing a code of practice on the supply of temporary staffing shortly, which will support trusts in purchasing temporary staff from commercial and in-house providers of temporary staff.
Commercial agencies are providing temporary staff to trusts through co-ordinated contracts, which include quality, risk and value for money criteria.